The bright yellow rays of the sun lit up the small room as the soft wind cradled the open windows. The silhouette of the window cast across a white blanket that covered Victor's torso as he lay asleep.
His body twitched, haunted by the dreams of his past. His eyes moved beneath his eyelids, shivering as he relived the horrors. The battlefield littered with the bodies of his fallen teammates, slain by the hands of a greater demon. Among the dead, cradled in his arms, was Simon, his friend whom he considered his brother. Rage and sorrow swelled in his mind as the image of the demons loomed, walking toward him with malicious intent. But, as quickly as the nightmare came, Victor recognized it for what it was—a memory, nothing more.
Awakened from the terrible dream, Victor immediately opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings. His repaired helmet and armor were neatly placed on a table beside the window. His wounds had been treated, his body bearing the scars of his fight.
Victor slowly pushed himself upright, still feeling the dull ache of recent pain. He glanced down at his arm—the very one that had been severed during his battle with the demon—now fully reattached, with barely a scar to see.
The door beside the bed opened as Minos walked in.
"I see that you have awakened." Minos spoke, his voice deep, raspy, and ominous.
Victor turned his gaze toward the figure who had saved his life, taking in the strange sight of him.
Minos was tall—so tall that he had to bend slightly to pass through the doorframe. His skin was dark, like the color of charcoal, and his bare upper body revealed a muscular physique that looked as though it had been chiseled from stone. His white hair was short, barely reaching his shoulders. He wore a mask resembling a skull, the bone-like ivory color blighted by scorch marks where the mask seemed to burn into his skin. The mask covered his entire face, with no mouth and hollow eye holes that glowed faintly. The mark of a crown was carved into the forehead.
Victor, still shocked from both his injuries and the unexpected appearance of the figure, found himself momentarily speechless. He watched as Minos approached the small table, his back now turned, and placed a neatly folded stack of clothes on top.
Victor stared at Minos' back, which was covered with a symbol of weapons: two short scythes crossed behind a large sword, its blade pointing up toward the neck. Inside the sword's blade, another crown was etched.
"Why did you save me?" Victor asked, his voice still hoarse.
"You did not deserve such a death at the hands of an unfair foe," Minos replied without turning around.
Victor narrowed his eyes. "Is there any other reason?" he pressed.
"There is another, but that matter will wait. For now, you are to rest until your wounds are fully healed," Minos responded.
"How much longer will it take then?" Victor asked.
"It is up to Mrs. Evangelina to answer that question," Minos replied.
"And who is she?" Victor pressed.
"She is the one who healed you and reattached your arm. You will meet her soon," Minos said plainly.
"Is that so?" Victor sighed, his tone lowering as he looked down.
"Yes. Here are some clothes," Minos informed him. "When you are ready, come downstairs." Without waiting for a response, Minos turned and exited the room, his heavy footsteps fading away.
Victor stared at the door for a moment, lost in thought, before shifting his gaze to the neatly folded clothes. "I should keep my guard up just in case," he muttered under his breath. Opening the room's door, he was met with a long hallway; his room was at the end of it. Along the hallway were four other doors, followed by stairs that led downstairs. As he walked through the long hallway, he could hear the sound of distant conversation.
"How is he?" the woman asked Minos.
"He should be here soon. He's better than the week before," Minos replied.
"I hope so," the woman sighed. "Reattaching an arm takes a long time without magic."
Victor walked slowly toward the kitchen, taking in the sight of the two conversing figures. Minos stood tall as usual, arms crossed, while the woman, whom Victor assumed to be Evangelina, sat casually at the table. Her white hair fell gracefully to her shoulders, and her eyes—silvery and sharp—turned toward him as she noticed his approach.
"Seems our survivor is here," Evangelina announced, her voice soft, calm, and soothing, yet filled with confidence.
Minos looked up. "How are your wounds?" he asked directly.
Victor gave a slight nod. "It's fine," he replied, then sat at the table with them.
Evangelina walked toward the kitchen. "Before we introduce ourselves properly, would you like some tea?" she asked, glancing back.
"I wouldn't mind," Victor said.
After a short while, Evangelina returned, carrying a tray with steaming cups of tea. She placed it on the table and sat gracefully.
"My name is Evangelina, and this is Minos," she began as she passed Victor a cup.
"My name is Victor, and I served for the Apex Operatives," Victor continued as he accepted the tea.
"Well then, I'm sure you have a lot of questions," Evangelina stated calmly. "We will try to answer as much as we can, but there are limits to how deep the information can go."
"First of all, thank you for saving my life and reattaching my arm," Victor began.
Evangelina gave a gentle nod, taking a slow sip of her tea. Minos sat silently, his arms crossed, watching Victor closely.
Victor set his cup down. "Now," he paused, his tone growing serious, "who are you, and why did you save me?"
Minos and Evangelina exchanged a brief glance before both turned their attention back to Victor.
"You may have guessed that we do not appear to be from here, and you would be right. We are from Celestia," Evangelina answered. "As for why we saved you, that is for Minos to answer."
Victor turned to Minos, who was sitting quietly.
"My previous answer stands," Minos began, his tone steady. "You did not deserve such a death against an unfair foe." He paused for a moment before continuing. "But the other reason…" He paused again.
"My task on this planet is almost done," Minos explained, his arms on the table as he looked directly at Victor. "But I require a way to reach the outer worlds. There is an interplanetary defense cannon, a machine that belongs to the people you work for. My thoughts are that you could help me gain access to it... and operate it when the time comes."
"So that's the other reason," Victor muttered under his breath. "But isn't Celestia the realm where the angels came from?"
"Correct. But we no longer align ourselves with them. The reason... is complicated to explain," Minos added.
"I won't press you on that," Victor replied, leaning forward slightly. "But yes, I know the location of the defense gun. The problem is, I don't know how to operate it."
"Care to share its location?" Minos asked.
"Tell me where I am first," Victor replied.
"We are between realms, a place where demons or any non-mages cannot easily access. When you open the front door there, it will connect to an abandoned house anywhere on this planet," Evangelina explained.
"Couldn't you use that to get to other planets?" Victor asked, his curiosity growing.
Evangelina shook her head. "No, the connection has to be set manually. This realm only links to places on Earth. And unlike Minos, I have to stay hidden here; else, Celestia would easily detect me if I left."
Minos leaned forward, placing his arms on the table. "May I ask you something?" he began, his golden eyes focused on Victor. "Since you can only provide the location of the defense weapon, how do you plan to continue your journey?"
"What do you mean? You're letting me go?" Victor asked.
Minos exchanged a glance with Evangelina, and she chuckled softly. "Of course, you're free," she said, smiling. "Did you think we were holding you hostage?"
"All the things you've told me... aren't those supposed to be secrets?" Victor questioned, confused.
"They are secrets, yes, but insignificant ones. Revealing them, even to Celestia, will not hinder the journey," Minos replied.
"You two are... quite unique," Victor chuckled.
Evangelina smiled softly. "We'll take that as a compliment," she said, rising from her seat. "But before you leave, I need to perform some final checks to ensure you're fully healed and that there will be no lingering complications."
"Thank you... Minos... Mrs. Evangelina, for everything," Victor sighed.
Victor and Evangelina stood up from their chairs. Evangelina took the teacups back into the kitchen while Victor walked back to the room, and Minos cleaned his weapons.
Victor sat on the bed, looking at his armor on the table, his mind sprinting with thoughts. Soon, Evangelina entered the room to do her last checkup on Victor. She gently took Victor's right hand, placing it against her forehead. Instantly, Victor's mind relaxed.
"That should be it. You're good to go," Evangelina smiled, her eyes fixed on Victor's.
"Thank you," Victor replied.
"Your mind seemed to race quite a lot; I've calmed it for you. Don't be so hard on yourself next time," she added with a soft smile.
Surprised, Victor could only thank Evangelina for the sudden act of kindness. After answering a few more of her questions regarding his health, she exited the room. Victor took a moment to gather his thoughts before making his way down to the living room, which was connected to the kitchen. Minos and Evangelina were standing there, chatting as they awaited his arrival.
"Not going to wear your armor anymore?" Evangelina asked.
"No, I don't plan on returning to the company that treats humans like resources," Victor replied without hesitation.
"Do you have any destination in mind? Somewhere to relax, perhaps?" Evangelina asked.
"Yes, Manchester, England," Victor replied.
"As you wish," Evangelina smiled.
The house shook as she summoned a small glowing circle beneath her hand and twisted it gently, casting a spell. The shaking came to a halt, and the sound of soft rain could be heard through the door.
"You've arrived at your destination," Evangelina announced.
"Thank you, again, for saving my life," Victor said, his voice filled with relief.
He opened the door, stepping out into Manchester, the place of his birth. Soft raindrops kissed his face as memories of his childhood surfaced. Victor sighed, a faint smile crossing his lips as he began walking. The evening sun struggled to break through the gray clouds above, casting a gentle light over the city.
Meanwhile, inside the house.
"Where's our destination now?" Minos asked Evangelina.
"Here, in England," she replied.
"Explain," Minos demanded.
"Have you noticed anything strange about the rain, Minos?" Evangelina asked in return.
"Yes, I have yet to ask you about the unusual weather," Minos responded, his tone firm.
"The last time you were here, it rained as well," Evangelina continued, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That was two weeks ago, before Victor woke."
"What do you suggest?" Minos asked.
"It is not strange for it to rain for long periods of time. But it is strange that the rainwater contains traces of blood in it," Evangelina explained.
"Stay here for a while, at least for the remaining weeks of the month. Demonic activity could increase at any moment, and if it does, there is a chance that—"
"An emperor will emerge," Minos interrupted, finishing her thought.
"Exactly. And with this abnormal weather, the emperor could very well be a mage," she continued.
"A mage emperor," Minos murmured, his voice tinged with disappointment. "Twice I've encountered them, and twice they slipped away."
"What about Victor? It's strange for you to let him leave; I was guessing you'd at least try to convince him to come with you," Evangelina asked, her arms crossed.
"I will speak to him later. I have better things to do for now," he replied.
As Minos made his way toward the door, Evangelina's voice stopped him momentarily. "Care to share what you plan on doing until the demons arrive?" she asked, her tone calm but inquisitive.
Without looking back, Minos responded in a cold, measured breath, "Channel as much strength from my original body as I can. This time... there will be no mistakes."
Before Evangelina could offer a word in response, the door slammed shut behind him. A flicker of disappointment crossed her features before she turned toward the kitchen, her hand swiping through the air with a faint gesture of magic.
The kitchen floor rippled like water, shifting beneath Evangelina's feet. The walls began to twist and stretch, bending impossibly until they expanded into a vast library. Shelves upon shelves of books lined the walls; some floated in the air, their pages turning lazily by invisible hands, while others lay open on the central table that dominated the now massive room.
The ceiling towered high, reaching an impossible height as if it touched the sky itself. A soft, glowing light fell from above, a warm yellow glint that shimmered with hints of magic.
Evangelina moved gracefully toward the central table, her calm and measured steps echoing in the enchanted silence of the library.
Outside, the half-destroyed city lay in ruins under the soft rain. Minos stood still for a moment, letting the droplets fall on him as he gazed up at the gray sky, its thick clouds shrouding the sun. His excitement stirred beneath his calm exterior.
As for the other half of the city, it was lively as ever. Cars rushed along the streets, pedestrians hurried on their way, and children's laughter filled the nearby parks. As Victor walked through the bustling streets, he quietly observed the civilians—people living their lives freely, unlike the fearful families he had once fought to protect.
He walked until the evening sky replaced the last rays of sunlight. Feeling an unsatisfied weight in his chest, Victor found a dimly lit bench in a park where children had played earlier. He sat in silence, gazing up at the moon struggling to pierce through the thick gray clouds and let out a heavy, painful sigh.
Reaching into his pocket, Victor pulled out an old, worn photograph. Six people stood together in it, making various gestures of camaraderie and joy. Victor stood in the middle, his arm draped over one of his squadmates. He looked at the picture, his expression unchanged, but his sorrow was clear in the slow rhythm of his breathing.
"I suppose those are the brothers who fought by your side?" came Minos's voice, suddenly appearing at Victor's side, seated with his arms crossed.
Surprised, Victor turned his head toward Minos, then back at the photo. "They used to be," he replied, his tone quiet.
The sorrowful atmosphere quickly shifted as Victor's voice hardened, the weight of his question carrying no emotion. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Minos stood up, looking into the distance before answering. "I am here to warn you," he stated. "I cannot say when, but demons will emerge, and this place will be safe no longer. Best be on your guard."
Victor's gaze sharpened as he followed up with a pressing question, his voice demanding an answer, "And you? Are you going to fight them?"
"Yes," Minos simply answered. "Until the main source is defeated."
A brief pause lingered between them before Minos asked, "Do you also plan on fighting?"
Victor stared ahead, his voice lowered. "I don't know," he admitted. "I will make my decision when the time comes."
"Well... when the time comes, I hope to see you fight once more," Minos said. "Should you need any aid, call upon my name, and I will be there shortly."
Before Victor could reply, Minos disappeared again without leaving a trace.
"Hope to see me fight, huh?" Victor sighed.
As time crept toward midnight, the rain fell ever so gently, the moon now completely obscured by thick, dark clouds. The city seemed quiet, devoid of the sounds of vehicles and people.
Meanwhile, atop an empty building, Minos sat in silence, focusing on drawing more strength from the cube that held his original body imprisoned. His current physical form began to fade slowly, becoming almost translucent, as the cube embedded within his chest started to grow more visible, pulsing with ancient power.
Inside the cube, Minos's original body lay dormant, bound by countless chains that entangled his limbs and torso, restricting every possible movement. He could not see, for even his eyes were obscured by the cold, unyielding iron links. He was held, bound, and sealed away.
Minos quickly returned to his external form outside the cube, his excitement growing as he sensed the impending danger. He could feel it in the subtle change in the weight of the raindrops. However, he forced himself to brush off the excitement, focusing instead on Victor, who was now asleep on the park bench.
Minos watched him for a moment, as though he could read the entire story of Victor's past. For a brief moment, he felt the calmness of Victor's temporary peace. But, once again, he set it aside and moved to sit some distance behind the bench, returning his consciousness to his original form trapped inside the cube.
As Victor lay asleep, nightmares of his past returned once again.
The horrifying scene of his old squadmates, whom he could not save, falling in battle. The horde of demons that fell beneath Victor's feet. There, at the heart of the nightmare, loomed the demon that had taken Simon's life, hidden behind an endless wave of enemies. Victor's gaze caught the demon with pure hatred. Another memory emerged, of Simon being held in Victor's arms.
"Hey... I will make it...after all... I still...owe you..that..beer." Simon's last words echoed endlessly in Victor's mind.
Hatred, vengeance, rage, and sorrow filled Victor's body. Every mistake and failure replayed itself like constant torture, reminding him of his inability to protect his brothers. He desired to wake up, yet his mind would not allow it.
Victor finally woke up, drenched in sweat, his heart racing. He looked around, but even in the dim morning light, the city was eerily quiet. The rain had stopped, though the sun still struggled to break through the thick, dark clouds.
Rising from the bench, Victor made his way toward the pond where ducks usually swam. As he knelt to wash his face, his eyes immediately caught that the pond was no longer filled with clear water but with blood. Startled, he quickly stood up, scanning his surroundings. It was then he realized that the trees, once lush and green the day before, had decayed.
"Finally awake." Minos appeared before him, as silent as ever.
"What happened?" Victor asked, still trying to process the scene.
Minos turned his gaze to the dead trees. "The time draws near," he answered simply.
"What are you going to do now?" Victor asked again.
"I will wait for them... and fight," Minos replied before turning the question back. "But my question is... what are you going to do?"
Victor paused, the nightmare from before replaying in his mind. "I will fight," he declared, his voice calm yet resolute.
"Very well." Though his mask concealed it, Minos's excitement was visible. "We shall prepare with what little time remains."
Chapter 2 -End-
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